﻿﻿A. Initial Level. The presumptive initial levels of sanction for each category of violation defined in Sec. VI are established by the Honor System Advisory Committee (see Honor Code Appendix I) in consultation with the Councils. Those levels may be different for undergraduates and students in each graduate/professional program.

B. Sanction Hearing. Following early resolution of a Level II violation or a finding of responsibility in an Honor Council hearing, the panel will determine the appropriate final sanction(s) to assign. It will consider extraordinary circumstances or aggravating circumstances by evaluating the facts and circumstances of the offense, the gravity of the violation(s), the harm/potential harm created by the act, and the student’s prior record of Honor or Code of Conduct violations. The Council may assign any of the primary sanctions listed in Sec. VII. of the Student Handbook and any combination of secondary sanctions including, but not limited to, loss or restriction of particular privileges, community service, an essay, restitution, or other reasonable sanctions.

C. Written Finding. All sanctions imposed by a hearing panel must be accompanied by written findings that explain why the panel determined such a sanction to be appropriate. Any significant deviation from the initial presumptive sanction level in Appendix I must be substantiated in the panel’s rationale.

D. Grade Determination

1. An instructor may assign a grade penalty up to, and including, a failing course grade if the student either accepts a proposal for early resolution (Sec. VIII) or is found in violation by the Honor Council (Sec. IX). Following a hearing, the Honor Council may recommend a grade penalty, but the instructor retains the final decision regarding the student’s earned grade. If the student receives a failing grade as a result of an academic integrity violation, that grade will remain on the transcript even if the student has withdrawn, or has been withdrawn from the course, and regardless of whether the student retakes the course.

2. In some cases the alleged misconduct may be found not to be a violation of the Honor Code, but instead may be considered a failure of the student to understand or abide by the instructor’s directions for the assignment. In such a case, the faculty member may assign a grade penalty proportionate to the violation of directions on his/her own authority independent of the Honor Code.